Early Season Update
May 1st, 2017
W - 12 / L - 12 / GB - .5
After a stellar spring training that saw the Rockies win 16 of their 22 games the beginning of the season has not been quite as good as they finished with a .500 record in April. The Rockies have performed well at many positions but have not gotten the pitching they expected from SP's Kevin Gausman and Ryan Verdugo going a combined 1-5 in 9 starts with ERA's of 5.32 and 7.07 respectively. The team has also had a poor showing from Catcher Wilin Rosario who is in the final year of his extension he received a few years ago. The Rockies made a couple of interesting moves recently that could hint at him being available this summer as their budget is tight and with LF Carlos Gonzalez bumping his pay to $20,000,000 next season they may no longer be able to retain Rosario after the season. They also made a couple moves of note right after spring training involving players expected to make the roster but had poor showing and were out of minor league options.
On April 1st the Rockies made 2 deals, the first sent RP Heath Hembree to the Dodgers. Hembree was acquired by Colorado in a 2014 deal that sent RP Matt Belisle to the Giants but Hembree never could put it together pitching just 7.2 innings in the big leagues with an ERA of over 12 while filling in for injured players. In return the Rockies received 26 year old minor league closer Juan Noriega who is playing in AA Tulsa currently.
Also on the 1st the Rockies sent 32 year old RP Eric O'Flaherty who was going to make $1,000,000 this season to the Cincinatti Reds. O'Flaherty spent 2 seasons in Colorado and pitched just over 50 innings with a 4.52 ERA. In return the Rockies received 27 year old minor league 1B Sean Buckley. Buckley is mostly just a depth player at this point but played decently well in AA the last 3 season with the Reds organization hovering around the .260 mark with his average and a .330 OBP and compiling 53 HR over the 3 years.
On April 4th the Rockies claimed a 29 year old 1B/C prospect from the Braves waivers. Braeden Schlehuber was once a promising prospect who has just never panned out for the Braves but the Rockies hope he can be coached up at the big league level. In AAA last year before being called up in September he hit .263/.314/.420 with 14 HR and 47 RBI for the Gwinett Braves. If he lives up to his potential he still could turn out to be very good but his work ethic is questionable.
The Rockies move to pick up Schlehuber prompted the trade of 1B Ryan Wheeler. Wheeler has been the Rockies bench first baseman the last few years but qualified for arbitration last season and saw an increase in pay. The ever tight wallet of the Rockies made him overpriced with the new talent on the bench. They ended up sending Wheeler to the Los Angeles Angels for 26 year old SP Daniel Corcino in return. Corcino was 9-5 last season for the Angels with a 4.22 ERA and is currently in AAA Colorado Springs. The Rockies now have 2 bench players capable of backing up 1B and the Catcher position as well as C Prospect Stryker Trahan waiting in AAA and hitting .308/.396/.679 with 7 HR and 18 RBI. This is the reason we need to see Rosario step up soon or he may be wearing a new uniform by the all-star break as his $8,000,000 price tag is a little too high for the past 2 years.
Top Team Performances
MLB Hitter - 1B Anthony Rizzo - .276/.359/.529 5 HR 17 RBI
MLB Pitcher - SP Drew Pomeranz - 2-0 1.93 ERA 0.93 WHIP
AAA Hitter - C Stryker Trahan - .308/.396/.679 7 HR 18 RBI
AAA Pitcher - SP Wilmer Font - 1-1 3.38 ERA 1.29 WHIP
AA Hitter - RF Carl Thomore - .242/.342/.409 1 HR 9 RBI
AA Pitcher - RP Benjamin Hughes - 11.0 IP 1.64 ERA 0.64 WHIP